Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 156,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Job growth occurred in healthcare and social assistance.

Job growth totaled 2.2 million in 2016, less than the increase of 2.7 million in 2015. Under President Barack Obama, 11.3 million jobs were added to the economy, and there have been 75 consecutive months of job growth.

Employment in healthcare rose by 43,000 in December, with most of the increase occurring in ambulatory healthcare services (30,000) and hospitals (11,000). Healthcare added an average of 35,000 jobs per month in 2016, roughly in line with the average monthly gain of 39,000 in 2015.

Social assistance added 20,000 jobs in December, reflecting job growth in individual and family services (21,000). In 2016, social assistance added 92,000 jobs, down from an increase of 162,000 in 2015.